Touring is usually perceived as this incredible experience full of limousines, 5 star hotels, wanting for nothing and groupies at every turn. We are here to put that little urban myth to bed. This is our story of The Deadvikings and their Blitzkrieg tour of Sydney.
These were our mates flying in from Japan, totally aware that they had to put their hands in their pockets, and in all probability not get paid. It’s the best kind of fun. The Deadvikings came, saw and conquered. Four gigs in four nights. It was a joyous nightmare.
The Build Up
The six week lead in was simply dedicated to PR. Hours spent sending press releases and editorials to different forms of print and electronic media, shipping songs out to radio stations prepared to play music they’d never heard before with on air plugs of each gig, designing promo images with a killer logo, and a seemingly endless torrent of social media. It was exhausting. In total over 750 avenues become entwined in little our project. Chuck in some old school poster runs, chatting up local vinyl outlets and basically surviving on very little sleep and excessive adrenaline, we lived and breathed the creation of hype. Not forgetting amongst all the craziness sourcing venues, Band line ups, gear requirements and logistics in getting from A to B, factoring in down time for these dudes allowing them to be tourists in a land they had not been : a mammoth task was at hand.
Day 1 Gig 1 – Manly
Within what seemed like a blink of an eye they arrived. Two and a half hours before lug in. Thank the Gods their flight wasn’t delayed. A quick cab to the Northern Beaches crash joint (no hotels), downing a celebratory Coopers Red, we then headed down to the first show via non-superstar means and by that we mean good old public transport. The looks we received by our fellow passengers was pretty bloody cool. Heads turned, audible gasps, furious whispers and some blatant stares. Who could blame them. An unlikely mix of 6, 3 of which were carrying guitars to an iconic destination not necessarily equated with Japanese Metal. Arrive we did at Gig 1: Old Manly Boatshed. We met Handasyd Williams and a portion of the Brothers Primitive with the first half of the back line as we waited on Tshitaki. When they rocked up, we set up the stage.
As a general rule, you build the show around your touring band, give them a set in the middle, sandwiched between two local bands. Get your unknowns as much a maximum crowd as possible riding on the coat tails of the knowns. PR paid off and a number of Punters rocked up for these first timers from Kobe. Everyone pulled and there were well over a hundred punters for the duration. Handasyd and the Brothers Primitive started gently, turned it up a notch or two as they progressed through their set and left it on high gear for our boys to make their Aussie debut. We were NOT disappointed. These Vikings ripped through their set, threw in a cover of The Undertones’ ‘Teenage Kicks’ and the mosh pit mob went off…literally. What we were unaware of at the time was a punk classic would be thrown in every single night by these guys.
Rounding out the line up was Tshitaki who, as always, caned it with the addition of a new song. (Not being ones to blow our own trumpet you can check out a previous review we have done on these turbo surf guys here). It was with interest we watched our Deadvikings and their reaction to this unfamiliar music in an unfamiliar land with Aussies being vocal and head banging, but as they drew closer to the stage we knew it was the right combo. We could honestly not have asked for a better start to what would be a roller coaster 4 days.
Day 2 Gig 2 – Bondi
Up far too early and with much to do, a cd was put on to give us enough time to some final gig day PR and allow the boys to listen to music of the guys they had played with at Gig 1. Guitars were being played but it was what happened next that really caught our attention: Kensuke, Shogo and Hiro were not just listening to this music, they were playing with each song. A quasi jam if you like. They live and breathe music with every fibre of their being. They absorb all that is their current surround.
We head over to Bondi, via the Manly ferry, not just to show off iconic landmarks but to allow these guys to really embrace the fact they were in Australia (and on a personal note we would like to thank Sydney for truly turning on the weather for them…job well done). After catching the train and bus, tackling commuters, we arrived at Royal Hotel Bondi and it is here we met legendary sound guy Ben whose enthusiasm and love of rock and roll was not only palpable but completely infectious. Backline set up, sound check complete, we head to Bondi Beach for some greasy fish and chips and companionable silence.
It must be noted at this stage, all the three local bands on the bill did an insane job to beat this gig up. And we mean intensely insane. This was by far, the largest of the blitzkrieg attack on Sydney.
Stu G did a solo set followed by a recently re-formed Silo, then a band The Deadvikings had expressed great interest in playing with, Black Knuckles. The front bar was packed with a nice little mosh pit and anticipation began to build. Merch was being purchased, endless autographs being signed. Shouts of “We’ve come here to see the fucking Deadvikings mate! When are they on for fucks sake!” – welcome to Australia boys.
Then the guys hit the stage. Expectations were met and then some. The punters showed appreciation by playing up to the band, who in turn returned the vibe. A great loop was created. This set was different from the previous night’s as the band cherry picked tracks from their various releases. Tonight’s cover was the Motorhead stomper ‘No Class’.
Encore followed encore. All geed up by a guy we call “great voiceover guy” (apologies for not naming you, it’s all a bit of a blur for the writers at this particular moment) who belted out “come on you guys. they flew all the way from Japan for christ’s sake”
When Kensuke tentatively asked “Can we play one more?” the response was simple: “Fuck, mate, you can play ten! You came all the way from Japan!”
The classic sign of success was witnessed with rounds being bought for them by punters including the mandatory Tequila shot…don’t get better than that.
Day 3 Gig 3 – Newtown
Up early again only today we had something a little different in mind for the boys’ Aussie experience. A Japanese friend/crew member took them out to show them more of this great city and souvenir shopping (and for the Vikings probably a most welcome respite being able to speak in their native tongue) before we all met for some Japanese nosh. Being somewhat partial to a particular ramen house, it was with complete confidence we introduced them to our personal fave eating house: must have been good cause it was literally inhaled by all. Sated it was off to The Townie.
With a little time to kill before lug in, we took our Vikings around the backstreets for some photo ops and show them that although seemingly close geographically, each location for the blitzkrieg was utterly unique. It is with pride and irony another classic Aussiedom was experienced at this Inner West locale. Walking around the graveyard showing off some beloved streetart walls, Bone was blind sided with a rugby tackle by one very very drunken dude. Being assured by Bone no damage was done, a killer look was all it took from our crew member to make this dickhead walk away, tail between legs mumbling incoherently “well the t-shirt told me to do it”.
Anxious anticipation crept in as we started the back line but our fears were allayed with the arrival of a great crowd including close mates, punters from previous nights gigs, friends of Savage Music Records (producers of “Libertatia”) and Newtown locals who turned up to welcome this band to Australia in a way only the Newtowners can do. Tshitaki opened the with energy mustered from a place we will never truly comprehend. Bunt, who had played with the guys on a previous tour of Japan, were at their peak slamming their garage punk right out of the ballpark with no smashed glasses or broken tables and amped that they were once again sharing the stage this unassuming bunch of musos from Japan.
image via Anonymii’s legendary Kate Vagg
Again, The Deadvikings surprised us and played a different set. In this we got to hear The Damned’s ‘Love Song’ and the punters loved it. There was literally no room to move. Punks, headbangers, metal freaks, conservatively dressed citizens all let loose with cameras, fist pumps and sweat: a perfect vision. As expected, the sound at the Townie was perfect. The band walked off stage worn, but in high spirits and yet also desperate to get to bed.
Day 4 Gig 4 – Sydney CBD
Another early rise and another exploration tour with our crew member who took the guys out Featherdale Park. Here they had the mandatory Koala group photo, experienced a bit of the Aussie bushland and then met Skippy. The following lunch included eating a burger made up of the animal they just petted at a zoo……now THAT’S rock and roll.
Meeting up Frankie’s, all four of the guys showed signs their exhaustion. But music has a strange pull on people and no matter how tired or over it you are, if it’s good it’s good and once again we saw them being drawn towards stage front. Stu G returned but this time with the full line up of The Grand Union where it must be noted that a pink Dead Vikings t shirt was worn by a band member as they slayed it out playing their deep rock and roll which was the perfect start to this final gig.
After a quick changeover, our boys put whatever exhaustion they had on hold, upped the ante and pounded out a scorching set at blistering volume. We noticed punters from the three previous gigs had arrived and taken pride of place at the front including members from other insanely iconic Aussie rock bands, DJ’s from afar, journos from print media and bookers all banging away with each note played. Such was the pace, the guys literally could not see what they were doing as the sweat poured down their faces.
They closed the set with their version of The Dead Boys classic ‘Sonic Reducer’ and it was (in all honesty) the only way to end this epic adventure. CD’s sold out, Vinyl purchased, no more tour T-Shirts to be bought. What followed would move even the hardest of rockers: tears of exhaustion, greeting punters from previous venues like old friends, being sought out by co-roadies, after which they were eventually whisked away for a quiet catching of the breath and meal with some old mates and sharing some new tales.
The Final Day
The last day of their time here was exhilarating, exhausting, joyous, and saddening all at the same time.
As we headed down to a beachside for a slow meander, simply enjoying the moment we decided to subject them to one last Aussie tradition: we slipped in to a pub for a few ales and talked about the whirlwind almost blinding experience we had all experienced, and then got to know each other a little bit more on a more personal level before seeing the guys off at the airport. Each had a different fave gig or moment but were unanimous in their desire to return to our shores as is ours. Plans are in motion for 2018 and we just know that if you didn’t get to see them cause you had never heard of them, you are sure as hell going to make make it to their next Blitzkrieg Tour.
Shogo, Kensuke, Hiro and Bone: we salute you and are honoured you not only came to our shores to play, you kicked some serious butt while doing it.
